Al Quoz Sprint banker Blue Point is 'the finished article'

Blue Point "is the finished article" according to trainer Charlie Appleby, who is hoping the fastest horse to ever come up his gallops can belatedly win the Al Quoz Sprint at Meydan on Saturday and lay down a claim to be considered the world's leading sprinter.

The five-year-old was a red-hot favourite for the Group 1 sprint last year but was withdrawn on veterinary advice after a blood clot, sustained when banging his head in transit, burst moments before the start of the race.

However, Appleby's disappointment soon turned to elation as his other representative, Jungle Cat, stormed to a first success at the highest level, capping a rollercoaster couple of minutes for the trainer and providing him with a first win on Dubai World Cup night, which is one of the most important fixtures in the calendar for his boss Sheikh Mohammed.

"To be stood there watching your favourite for a Group 1 being scratched at the start, and at the time not knowing why, was tough," admitted Appleby.

"It was a huge ambition to have a World Cup night winner and Blue Point was our best chance of the night for sure. But after having the disappointment of him being scratched at the start I had to be composed and look for positives, and the positive was we had Jungle Cat, who I knew was going to be a big player."

Jungle Cat has since been retired to stud, leaving the runway clear for Blue Point, who has always given the impression he could be extra special and is the 4-6 favourite to win Saturday's 6f contest.

Appleby said: "The most exciting work horse we've had would be Blue Point. It's been natural speed, speed, speed from day one.

"He's still electric in his work – he's either hacking around or flat out! There's no middle gear."

William Buick is the man tasked with riding Blue Point, who has easily won both starts at Meydan this season, and he agrees the son of Shamardal possesses exceptional speed.

The rider said: "He's a ball of muscle – a speedball. He's exciting."

Blue Point produced one of the best sprint performances of last season when winning the King's Stand Stakes over 5f at Royal Ascot, but couldn't reproduce that level of form when disappointing in the July Cup and again failing to fire on all cylinders in the Nunthorpe.

With Harry Angel, who is also owned by Godolphin, sent to stud the decision was made to keep Blue Point in training as a five-year-old, and Appleby believes it will be vindicated.

He said: "We felt Blue Point had more to give and can be a flagbearer in that division and, as it stands, he's probably at the top of the tree.

"He's a five-year-old now and is the finished article. He's mature mentally and physically. If he turns up and gets beaten by a better horse then we have no excuses."

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